MANILA – The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) lauded the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) following the arrest of one of the suspects in the ambush of a photojournalist and his relatives that left a minor dead in Quezon City last year.
In a news release Thursday, PTFoMS Executive Director, Undersecretary Paul Gutierrez, commended QCPD chief, Brig. Gen. Rederico Maranan, for the arrest of 25-year-old Jomari Campillo, alias “Mata,” on May 14.
Campillo, who is also the No. 9 most wanted person in Quezon City, was arrested in front of the Quezon City Hall of Justice in Barangay Central, Quezon City, under a warrant of arrest issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 86, for frustrated murder for the shooting of Remate photojournalist Joshua Abiad on June 29, 2023.
“We extend our full gratitude and commendation to the QCPD under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Red Maranan for this accomplishment. It only proves that our police force is exhausting all efforts to give justice to all media men who are victims of crimes and violence,” Gutierrez said, as quoted in the PTFoMS news release.
“It is this kind of vigilance on the part of PTFoMS’ partner agencies that reinforced the message of President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos Jr. that the administration continues to build a safe media environment by going after the perpetrators of violence against the members of the press.”
According to PTFoMS, Campillo was first arrested on July 13, 2023 for violation of Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, but was later released after posting bail.
Before that, another suspect, Eduardo Almario Legazpi II, tagged by the police as a “professional shooter”/gun-for-hire, was arrested by the QCPD on July 11, 2023.
Gutierrez said at least five more suspects are being sought by the police, including the suspected mastermind who goes by the alias, “Nanad,” for the failed ambush attempt on Abiad.
The photojournalist was on board an SUV with his family on June 29, 2023, when the suspects in another vehicle blocked their way and opened fire at them.
Abiad survived the attack but his 4-year-old nephew later died due to injuries, while four others and two minors were wounded in the shooting incident. (PNA)
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